Acacia effusifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acacia effusifolia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acacia
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| Species: |
effusifolia
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia effusifolia is a type of wattle tree or shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which is a large group of plants. This plant grows naturally in the Mid West and Wheatbelt areas of Western Australia.
What Does Acacia effusifolia Look Like?
This shrub or tree usually grows to be about 2 to 5 meters (6 to 16 feet) tall. It has several stems that can have shallow or deep grooves running along them.
The bark is typically grey to brown and mostly smooth. Sometimes, it might have small cracks near the bottom. New shoots often have a sticky, shiny coating called resin. They also have tiny red hairs.
Like many Acacia plants, it has special leaf-like parts called phyllodes instead of true leaves. These phyllodes are green to grey-green, flat, and a bit stiff. They are long and thin, measuring about 4 to 14 centimeters (1.6 to 5.5 inches) long and 1 to 4 millimeters (0.04 to 0.16 inches) wide.
The phyllodes are usually smooth, or they might have very tiny hairs. They have many thin lines, called nerves, running along them.
When Does Acacia effusifolia Flower?
Acacia effusifolia mostly blooms between July and September. It produces bright yellow flowers.
The flowers grow in small, round to cylinder-shaped clusters. These clusters are often found in pairs where the leaves meet the stem. Each cluster is about 5 to 20 millimeters (0.2 to 0.8 inches) long and 4 to 7 millimeters (0.16 to 0.28 inches) wide. They are packed with golden-colored flowers.
After the flowers bloom, thin, leathery seed pods form. These pods are straight or slightly curved. They are 2 to 9 centimeters (0.8 to 3.5 inches) long and 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 inches) wide. The pods have faint lines running along them.
Inside the pods, you'll find shiny brown seeds. The seeds are oblong (oval-shaped) and about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) long. Each seed has a small white aril, which is a fleshy covering.
Where Does Acacia effusifolia Grow?
Most of these plants are found from around Mullewa in the south-west. Their range extends north to Meekatharra and east to Goongarrie. There are also a few smaller groups of plants found outside this main area.
This Acacia usually grows on low hills, near large granite rocks, on flat areas, and on sandy plains. It prefers sandy or loamy soils, which can sometimes have a lot of clay.
It is often found in shrublands and areas with spinifex grasses. These plant communities usually include different types of Eucalyptus trees and other Acacia species.
